Could 2023 be the year of the fuel cell? We report this week on Kalmar's trial of two fuel cell terminal tractors in the United States and on the first trial of a hydrogen-fuelled tractor by a UK port operator.
These tests come hot on the heels of last month's testing of a Hyster container handler powered by hydrogen fuel cells (HFC) at Fenix Marine Services in the Port of Los Angeles.
Built on a standard Hyster H1050-1150XD-CH top-pick container handler design, the truck is powered by two 45 kW hydrogen fuel cells from Nuvera.
The benefits of fuel cells are well known, in terms of environmental impact, silent operation and fast charging.
But the supply of hydrogen remains problematic. Until the fuel becomes widely available, broader adoption is unlikely.